"ADA is a landmark commandment of fundamental human morality. It prepares the way for the emancipation of more than half of a billion of the world’s most oppressed people." Justin Dart, Father of ADA - Fall, 1990

Thesis

Dating back to the early 19th century, disabled Americans were treated as second-class citizens. Infuriated by lack of opportunities, the disabled embarked on a thirty year journey to freedom: the Disability Rights Movement. Their protests culminated in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), a turning point in history, which ensured disabled citizens equal access to every aspect of society. The ADA acted as a catalyst for disability rights worldwide. Today, this law functions as a legal foundation for continuous improvement to the lives of people with disabilities.

"...let us go forward together for however long it takes to create an America that empowers all."National Council on Independent Living 30th Anniversary